Ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, the Super Eagles will play against Ghana and Senegal in pre-tournament friendlies in June, reports Completesports.com.
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr revealed this after the draw of the AFCON tournament in Egypt on Friday.
“We have two friendlies against Ghana and Senegal, “Rohr revealed after the draw in Cairo.
“Ghana in Nigeria and Senegal probably one week before the tournament here in Egypt.”
“It would be a great showpiece of football, but it is important for our players to avoid injuries as the season heads towards the end.”
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been drawn alongside Burundi, Madagascar, and Guinea in Group B of the tournament.
The two top –placed teams in each group, as well as the best four third-placed teams, will qualify for the knock-out rounds.
Meanwhile, all matches of the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations finals, set for 21st June – 19th July, will take place at the Cairo International Stadium, Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Suez Stadium, Ismailia Stadium and the Air Defence Stadium in Cairo.
By Johnny Edward
16 Comments
Wow! what a good friendly we have ahead. Thanks to NFF and Coach Rohr for setting this up. Both Ghana and Senegal are way ahead of all the teams in our group and this will keep us at the very best heading to the tournament. I just pray our players are all injury free cuz Both Ghana and Senegal play body-body football oo
Personally I think play Ghana and Senegal will show them our weak point,also my fear is injuries, don’t understand why we playing them so so close to the real tournament. We should be wary also if mind games.
With these two friendlies under the belt later on in the year, in the friendlies or call it warm up games the Super eagles will have faced the strongest teams in east Africa (Uganda – unbeaten), in North Africa (Egypt – Hosts) and the powerhouse of the continent West Africa (Senegal – Number one in Africa) and arch rivals Ghana. If this is not “good quality preparation, then I don’t know what is. So far we have been unbeaten by the best Africa has got to give in 2018/2019 having faced the best North, South, East and West
This is great for super eagle.
These two friendly matches are okay to be honest. Kudos to NFF.
My point of view here is different. The way I’m looking at things its different.
This year Afcon is similar to Russia scenarios when Eagles was preparing for the last year world cup.
Point1, we played grade a friendly matches, our coaches did not learned nothing from it and when the tournament begins in Russia, they couldn’t find answers to the problem.
Point2, we beat Argentina in friendly but when it was matter most, Argentina beaten us again.
Point3, heading to this year Afcon in Egypt, what our coaches have learned so far?
Before we started boasting, let’s have a rethink first my people. Name doesn’t play football and our past achievements its now history. For these reasons, I remain humble. God bless Nigeria!!!
There is someone or some people behind the progress of the Eagles which we have so far failed to acknowledge. I am talking about Mr. Amaju Pinnick and his crew – Seyi Akinwumi, LMC chairman (Mohammed Sanusi or so) and the entire executives of the NFF. They have done a marvellous job. Though Amaju won under controversial circumstances I have no doubt that this man is the very best football administrator Nigeria has got in over 30 years. In an era where our leaders are rotten and smelling, Amaju has done exceedingly well – Acquiring sound sponsorship for all the national teams, prompt payment of players and coaches salaries, grade A friendlies both for world cup and afcon, grade A preparations and welfare for our women teams, welfare for retired players – please can you remind me of any other FA administration that comes 30 percent close to this. Inspite of all the rotten goats we have in our politics, Amaju has been extraordinary. I must make special mention of the LMC Chairman too, Mallam Mohammed Sanusi – Infact I cant find the right words to describe this wonderful humble gentleman. He is an epitome of what it means to be a leader. It is people like this that should be our countrys president in future. May God bless the Amaju Pinnick led NFF. However they should try and maintain a perfect record by paying the tailor who made our world cup attires. I pray they do because they have really been an inspiration. God bless Nigeria. Naija Forever !!!!
Love this, Indeed Amaju n crew definitely the best we’ve ever had.
Oga paschal,may God bless u.You see we are very quick to condemn our leaders when they do wrong,but fail to appreciate them when they do well.Am particularly impressed with the fact that u raised this issue of leadership this morning cos that is the bane of our development in Africa and Nigeria.
In the case of our football we never had it this good with preparation for major tournaments from the world cup to this nations and et al. Come to think of it that this preparation is not just associated with the men only as they have set the same standard for female football,do u see the way the preparation of Falcons is going for the world cup?second to known.All of this is attributable to the sound leadership qualities of Pinnick and others.Iam also impressed with the LMC administration with the Laliga arrangement, over time it will add value to us and our football.
Truth be said, Pinnick, has done well and I see him becoming the CAF president in future.I also love his level of transparency as exhibited in the recently concluded Aiteo awards by mentioning in full glare how much the coach is earning and how the Aiteo chairman assisted,that is transparency.
In all I must appreciate the leadership of our football for a job well done.
Less I forget, the fact that a coach had decent preparation prior to a tournament and did not win it or do well does not mean the coach is bad or he did not learn.That he bit Argentina in friendlies and lost in world cup does not mean Gr is bad.In actual sense,wat good preparation does to a team even if they don’t win a tournament is to improve the team subsequently in other events as lessons would have been learnt.The lesson learnt at the world cup has improved our team greatly as we can see and we can only get better.By the way everyone could see that we were very unlucky against Argentina,we could as well have won.Aside the Messi factor, the penalty was wrongly refused and that would have given us the game.So am sure Gr has learnt and that leassoon has improved the team greatly.
Well done Nff.
God bless you omonija. My main concern is our coaches. Their ability to read the game and know what to do, the player to substitute and the correct tactics to apply is very poor.
Good to see we are facing top class opposition in Ghana and Senegal. All the teams that qualified from their groups in the world cup have a chance to win afcon. Nigeria senegal morocco Egypt are all favourites.
Fantastic friendly matches by all standards. Ghana and Senegal are some of the continents best teams, with quality stars like Thomas Partey, Ayew brothers for Ghana and Liverpool forward Saido Mane and a host of Terenga Lions players. Both teams have always been hard nuts to crack for the SE, and in view of the AFCON, both will be strong oppositions to prepare us adequately for the biennial tournament.
Senegal like Ghana is a soccer team with a combination of strong physicality and flair. While the Terenga Lions are a physically imposing side with so many athletic and young players, the Black stars are much more known for their robust football; they’ve amazing skill set, showing off their great dribbling and attacking football style, though many would argue that the present Ghana senior side does not have in their fold such quality as seen in the era of Michael Essien, Suleiman Muntari, that notwithstanding the Ghananians are always a formidable side.
It would also be appreciated to see Nigeria squaring up with teams like Tunisia and Morocco from the Northern part of Africa, like we did with Egypt in a friendly with new players.
Ahead of the friendly games and the AFCzoN, I do not expect Rohr to use the tune up games to experiment with new players as I believe he already has the complement of fhe lads that prosecuted the Afcon qualifiers, however, it would not be out of place to see one or two new players invited in wing back positions and goalkeeping dept to further strengthen areas.
It is the expectations of many to see Tyrone Ebuehi and Ola Aina regain full fitness to be available for selections in Egypt, being some of our brightest wing back prospects.
With the inclusion of tallismanic Mikel, who should be playing his last AFCON for the SE, Nigeria is expected to present a star studded and an indomitable side with a balance squad of players from defence to attack.
The attack expectedly should be our biggest strength with the assembly of expereinced Ighalo, Musa and the effervescent Simon Moses, Henry Onyekuru, Samuel Kalu,Osimhen, Paul Onuachu.
The SE middle should be led by Mikel Obi, barring any injuries and loss of form, supported by John Ogu,Oghenekaro Etebo, Semi Ajayi, Mikel Agu, Alex Iwobi and Ndidi Wilfred and a likely Azubuike Okechukwu.
The team’s success is also tied to reliable defence partners in centre halves of Balogun Leon Aderemi and William Troost Ekong, and centre defence options in vastly improved Kenneth Omeruo and Turkey based youngster, Chidozie Awaziem, who has grown in stature from expereince garnered in Portugal and France with Porto and Nantes respectively. The defensive duties would be incomplete without high spirited full backs/wing backs as Ola Aina, Tyrone Ebuehi, Ja,ilu Collins, Shehu Abudulahi and homeboy Ikuomen Udoh
Our Oga Paschal & Asoko Emmanuel, l want to thank you both for your deep thoughts and understanding of what is making our football moving forward as it is today. It should perhaps, be noted also, that the NFF has tended to eliminate and/or neutralized the ministry of sport influences in the running of the affaires of NFF.
l am delighted that there are some folks who are smart enough in this place to want us continue to hang around here.
Again, my two friends mentioned above, thank you both.
Soon, All this oyibo boy’s will be dying to represent 9ja green&white..
NFF,,,una 3much!
From what I’ve I observed over time since the arrival of this “team” ranging from the current NFF management manned by Mr Pinnick and the coaching crew headed by Mr Rohr, the super eagles are heading in the right direction. It’s confirming the adage that says that ” Rome was not built in a day”. The improvement recorded so far has been tremendous. We’ve never had it this good before. Qualifying for the world and nations cup respectively with games to spare! Great men labour for the future and not for the present. With this wonderful schedule, mr Rohr has shown us that he really has great plans for the team with his outstanding record of achievements that has given some people sleepless nights. Ride on great team, the future of world football lies at your feet.
Pinnick no dey on picnic. Nice job organising these friendlies. Kudos, NFF.